pugetsound – Pacific Maritime Magazine

15 Oct

Voluntary Vessel Slowdowns Begin in Puget Sound to Protect Endangered Whales

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newspugetsound, quietsound, washingtonmaritimeblue

From now through Jan. 12, commercial vessel operators entering the Puget Sound are being asked to reduce vessel speeds to help lower underwater noise impact to endangered Southern Resident killer whales as they migrate, it was announced Oct. 7. The effort, Quiet Sound, is a collaboration with the Washington Maritime Blue nonprofit alliance to help reduce vessel noises that affect the whales’ ability to communicate and hunt in the area. (There are 75 Southern Resident killer whales left in the Salish Sea and the whales’ presence in Admiralty Inlet was confirmed Oct. 5.) For 22 nautical miles through Admiralty Inlet…

18 Jun

Puget Sound Sees Reduced Pollution from Maritime Sector: Report

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online NewsNWSA, pollution, psei, pugetsound

Since 2005, the Puget Sound has seen a drop in the amount of air pollution generated from maritime-related operations, according to a report released June 7 by the Puget Sound Maritime Air Forum. The Puget Sound Emissions Inventory (PSEI) report, created with the help of seven area ports, six government agencies and three industrial partners, shows an 82% decline in diesel particulate matter and a 10% drop in greenhouse gas emissions from port and maritime sources in the region since 2005, the inventory’s baseline measurement. “The Puget Sound Emissions Inventory is an important tool to identify how our policy decisions…

27 Feb

USCG Sector Puget Sound Launches Effort to Curb Vessel Traffic’s Impact on Whales

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscargovolumes, pmsa, pugetsound, trade, uscg, vts, whales

The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound is engaging in a four-year pilot program that is expected to help minimize the vessel traffic impact on endangered whales in the Salish Sea, the agency announced Feb. 21. Hosted in the Puget Sound Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), the program allows for the Coast Guard to get whale sighting reports from mariners and give close to real-time information on whale locations to mariners through a whale report alert system, according to the Guard. The Coast Guard said that it plans to work closely with international, federal, tribal and state entities as well as…

11 Jul

Puget Sound Zero-Emissions Truck Collaborative Launched

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsemissions, NWSA, pugetsound

For the first time, the Puget Sound Zero-Emissions Truck Collaborative convened more than two dozen trucking firms, warehousers and other industry stakeholders to in effort to create a plan for a “transition to zero-emission drayage trucking in the Puget Sound region by 2050,” the Northwest Seaport Alliance announced June 30. The collaborative, which is expected to meet bi-monthly until December 2024, is tasked with creating a Decarbonizing Drayage Roadmap, a blueprint for maximizing new opportunities such as government funding increases and dealing with specific challenges, including the high cost of zero-emission trucks and lack of charging and fueling infrastructure, according…

31 May

Seattle Port Executive Director Named Puget Sound Maritime Public Official of the Year

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operationsmaritimeday, portofseattle, pugetsound

Port of Seattle Executive Director Steve Metruck was recently named the Puget Sound Maritime Public Official of the Year at a Seattle Maritime Day Breakfast event, the port revealed May 25. The Seattle Propeller Club’s Public Official of the Year Award honors policymakers who have demonstrated leadership and support for the maritime industry. Port Commissioner Toshiko Grace Hasegawa, who announced the award, spoke of Metruck’s strong leadership and experience, particularly through the pandemic. “Steve led the port through the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring no interruption of essential aviation and maritime operations and moving ahead with critical capital…

27 May

2022 Puget Sound Maritime Achievement Award Recipient Named

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsmaritimeachievement, pugetsound, workingwaterfront

Longtime Puget Sound maritime advocate Debbie Granger is the recipient of the 2022 Puget Sound Maritime Achievement Award. Granger, a member of the Working Waterfront Coalition of Whatcom County, is one of just three women to win the award since it was first given out in 1951. Granger is known for her work in raising awareness of the region’s maritime industry, bringing her experience in education, fish processing, public relations, marketing, fundraising and event management to the table. Before retiring to Whatcom County, she worked at the University of Washington, where she oversaw a 12-state aquaculture research consortium. She created…

13 May

Everett Ship Repair Opens New Dry Dock

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsdrydock, everettshipprepair, portofeverett, pugetsound

Everett Ship Repair recently celebrated the opening and naming of its newest dry dock, the Emerald Lifter. Named in tribute to the Puget Sound, the Emerald Lifter conducted maintenance and preservation work before moving to the company’s facility at the Port of Everett last month and being put into service May 3 with its first drydocking, the company said. Its 2,000-ton lifting capacity and 220-foot by 62-foot working deck will complement the facility and Faithful Servant, the company’s current 430-foot by 110-foot 8,000-ton capacity dry dock that’s been operating since 2019. The company also received from sister company Nichols Brothers…